TOPIC: New boat 75 Fiberform/115 Merc

Got this for $400.00 this weekend.

She looks pretty good from here Neil, had a chance to check it over yet? (Be honest though, you bought the Merc that happened to have a boat still bolted to it! LOL)

Mark
You got me pegged. That is exactly right. The old girl is bolted to a BIIIG trihull!
Been waiting to turn some boats so I could get this one.
I have to apologize, Mark, I have not got your door in the mail yet, but soon.
Neil

No apology necessary Neil, there's no rush. That Fiberform looks pretty solid, should make a great family cruiser. Doesn't appear to need a whole lot, just some TLC. What is she, about a 17' or 18'? With the 115 you should be around the 40 mph range, running "light" of course.

neil,nice boat and i love that merc.excellent price too.
by the way "mercaholic",do you happen to have pics of a 40 hp,merc from the early 60s,thats what tim is building me and i wondered what it looks like ,especially the badges.
and also let me know how much the shipping is for the wood,thanks john,p.s. oh yeah i need your address ,lol,john

Take a peek at this John;
store.eastcoastmarineservice.com/category_s/803.htm

thanks mark,im not that familer with smaller mercs,im glad it has the badges i wanted,thanks again john

John
Here is a shot of a little Merc, hope this helps.
Mark
The tri hull is 17'. Long and wide. It is not going to be a speed boat that's for sure.
Neil

This is my first attempt at posting a video. Lets see how this works.
This is the 1150 fired for the first time since 1998.
Heck it worked!
Neil

thanks neil,thats what i was hoping it would look like ,lol,and dont forget to give me your address so i can send a couple of bucks,lol,john

The Merc looks and sounds great Neil. (Good job on the video too.) Lake trial this weekend?

The wife says lets go. Although it will have to be Sunday. I may have to run up to Spokane (5 hours round trip)on Saturday. May be picking up a 1959 Mark 55. Running/controls for one C-note. It has a cute little 3 blade brass prop also.
Gotta pull the fuel tank and clean, replace all the rubber lines, anchor the battery in its box, change the lower unit gear lube.
Just the little stuff.
What do you guys recommend for the lower unit?
Neil

The Merc Premium gear lube is probably adequate, but I like the synthetic stuff just for extra protection. They call it their "High-Performance" gear lube. (There has been some discussion here on using other brands, non-marine gear lube, etc., but IMO good lube is a lot cheaper than rebuild, why take a chance.) Just my two cents.

I would also consider re-bedding (re-sealing) the mounting bolts and any hardware on the transom. Personal Experience has taught me that after time some sealants evidently harden-disintegrate and fail to do the job properly. 30 minutes worth of your time could save you trouble down the line. (I re-sealed mine, and the transom no longer gets wet inside.)

Thanks Mark
I am checking over everything. Hate to get stranded or cause long term damage over a little oversite.
The deal on the Mark 55 fell through. A guy just bought it this afternoon. Hope it went to a happy home.
Looks like possible rain this weekend, but it is sea trials anyway.
Diesel just jumped $.14 today. Glad I don't own a diesel Merc!!!!!
Neil

I took her out this weekend. Cold, cold.
Had a bit of a time starting, but once fired she ran well.
Had to do a bit of adjusting on the idle.
She never faultered once. I gave it a good trial.
WOT for a bit. Then putted around at around 3200, just up on plane.
Then WOT for a bit. Then idled in gear and checked out the rest of the boat systems. Then shut it down and floated and had lunch for about a half hour. Then started right back up.
It has a 19 pitch aluminum prop. WOT is 5000 and 32 m.p.h.
I tried three different holes in the tilt. Second hole in from the end seems to work best.
Sorry guys, no pics. Camera was left home,OOPS.
Got a video on my phone I will get put up here soon.
Neil

Hey Neil ..Good fine there ..How many Mercs you have now ?? I think youve got me beat .Ive only got 4 .Hows the Fantasy coming along ??

Larry
Nice to here from you.
I am at ONLY 9 Mercs now. But shopping all the time!!
The Fantasy is on the back burner. I haven't touched it for a long while.
Is the Del Mar going to be ready for the summer? I am curious to see what colors you are going to use.
Neil

You had to mention Color ...L.O.L...Thats been driving me crazy ..Ive got that 1956 Chevy Step Side Shorty I think I told you about .I was originally gonna paint the Truck Hugger Orange .But then I got the Delmar another 56 and thought it would be way Cool to Tow it with the 56 Chevy ..I just cant see Hugger Orange on that boat ..The truck is a Restore Hot Rod .Its lowered 5 inchs and Updated with Camaro Running gear ..So what color do you paint both or use partial colors to match so they both look Cool together Or Seperate ?? Been Beating around alot working on a choice ..Thought of Magenta Truck and the Delmar with White and Magenta Stripes ..Somebody said that was to close to pink ...L.O.L...Thought of like a Viper Blue but thats a Populer color for both and I want them to be mine if that makes sense ..Same with Red ..So Right now if I ordered my paint and Im getting close to it ..In 55 threw 57 They had a Tropical Torquise ..If you use White primer The Color kinda Flips between a Medium Torquoise and Robbins Egg Blue depending on light conditions ..They also had Ivory White ..So Im thinking Torquoise truck With a Torquoise Delmar with Ivory Accents ..Some of the Delmars were Torquise as well as the trucks .Whats your Thoughts or Anybodys on here .. Im open to suggestions ..So far I got the boat sanded and Preped down to 320 . Think ill just shoot some urethane sealer then ss Urethane paint on her .Ive got 90% of the wood done with either new pieces or saved the old . Its in Cherry Stain with Gloss Spar urethane on it .I polished up the Side windows and the Top windshield . I was amazed how nice they came out and Look almost new ..I polished all of the Handles and Hardware . Those Rams Horns look pretty neat ..Now I just need some good weather .. Got 15 inchs of snow yesterday ..Was almost 60 degrees 2 days before .. Bad winter here ...L.O.L. Im gonna pull the floor up and see how everything is under there ..There was no drain for under the floor and it had some water in there . I thought that boat was a little heavy .I drilled a Hole down low in the transoom last fall and Kept putting Buckets under it to catch and measure it .13 gallons by the time it quit dripping ..Thats like a 120 pound of water under the floor . Sure hope the stringers are OK .Ill replace what needs to be replaced and Im gonna add a Bilge pump pit in the back so water wont get trapped there again .Still gonna rebuild the transoom and cut it down for Short Shaft Merc 50 I got .These boats actually came with either Short or long ..By the way I did repaint that Merc 50 and went threw it . She sounded great just like Mercs do ..One way or another She is gonna be in the water in time for July 4th ..Thats a Big time up here ..

Larry
I am partial to the blue shades myself. All of my boats are shades of blue.
I think the turquoise and white would really set the Del Mar off.
Not to mention the "Phantom Black"
Neil

Just purchased the same year Fiberform tri hull. My first boat. Am replacing the waterlogged foam and floor. Motor and hull and trailer in great shape. I've attached my boat's image. ANY tips, ideas you can give me would be appreciated. I'm especially interested in the model name.

Cool Boat on an old thread lol

Welcome aboard jgraham389 !